Jordan's Track Talk

Category: Formula One

  • Domenicali to continue as President and CEO of Formula 1

    Formula 1 has announced that President and CEO Stefano Domenicali has extended his agreement with Liberty Media in a five-year renewal and will lead the business through 2029.

    Domenicali became President and CEO on January 1st, 2021 and has been instrumental in driving the business to new levels of success and becoming the global sport it is today.

    Formula 1 has seen incredible growth and increased interest and demand for its races around the world. It has continued to experience very strong momentum in fan growth and engagement alongside commercial success across all business areas including sponsorship, media rights and race promotion.

    The Formula 1 ecosystem has never been stronger for all stakeholders and the strategy to continuously innovate, create new ways to engage audiences and improve offerings for the fans will propel the sport’s success into the future.

    Before joining Formula 1, Domenicali began his professional career at Ferrari in 1991, where he held various positions, increasing his responsibility until he became the Team Principal in 2008.

    In 2014 he joined Audi AG as Vice President of New Business Initiatives and then was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini in 2016.
    During his time at Lamborghini he successfully grew the brand in major global markets and across platforms, producing strong financial results.

    We are thrilled to renew Stefano and look forward to his leadership alongside the talented management of Formula 1 for the years ahead. Stefano has been an excellent steward of the business, building on its successful foundation and accelerating Formula 1’s rate of growth both commercially and in fan engagement. His energy and enthusiasm for the sport translate into highly effective strategy and results. On behalf of Liberty, we are thankful for his partnership and incredibly optimistic about the continued success the F1 team can drive for the sport, our fans, partners and shareholders.
    Derek Chang, President and CEO of Liberty Media.

    I am honoured to continue to lead this incredible sport, which I love and has been part of my life since my childhood and grateful to the Liberty Media Team for their trust. Together, with all the relevant F1 stakeholders, we will continue to serve the best interest of our fans, as they are the heartbeat of everything we do.  The passion, the energy and the adrenaline are the fuel that powers me every day to give my absolute best to Formula 1.
    Domenicali on the news.

  • Kick Sauber confirm Wheatley’s start date

    Kick Sauber have confirmed that Jonathan Wheatley will officially become their Team Principal on April 1st, 2025.

    Wheatley, who has long served as Red Bull’s Sporting Director, was announced in the position last August, but the Swiss team stopped short of communicating an exact start date.

    Now, that date has been finalised for the beginning of next month, with Wheatley’s race debut to follow at the Japanese Grand Prix.

    Wheatley will lead the management team at Sauber Motorsport AG alongside Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer, Mattia Binotto.
    In their respective positions, both Binotto and Wheatley will report directly to Gernot Dollner in his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sauber Motorsport AG.

    It comes as German car manufacturer Audi prepare to take over Sauber’s entry and make it their own works operation from the 2026 season onwards.

    Wheatley’s career in F1 started with Benetton in the early 1990s where he climbed the ranks to become Chief Mechanic and remained there through the team’s Renault guise.
    He joined Red Bull’s new team in 2006, achieving significant success – including six Teams’ and seven Drivers’ titles – as Sporting Director.

  • R2 – China

    Oscar Piastri bounced back from the disappointment of his late-race mistake at last week’s 2025 season opener in Australia by converting pole position into an assured victory during the Chinese Grand Prix – leading home team mate Lando Norris for a McLaren 1-2.

    Piastri controlled Sunday’s 56 lap race at the Shanghai International Circuit from start to finish, never putting a foot wrong in a much calmer second race of the season that centred around whether drivers would complete one or two pit stops.

    As it transpired, the first five finishes and the vast majority of the field only visited the pits once, with Piastri building and managing a gap back to Norris across their two stints to take the chequered flag and kick off his challenge for the title.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Piastri, P2: Norris, P3: Russell, P4: Verstappen, P5: Leclerc, P6: Hamilton, P7: Ocon, P8: Antonelli, P9: Albon and P10: Bearman.

    However, after the race there was drama from the FIA, they have disqualified Leclerc and Gasly for their cars being found to be underweight in post-race checks.
    Not only this Hamilton has also been disqualified for his rear skid block which was found to be under the minimum thickness.

    This means that the new top 10 is- P1: Piastri, P2: Norris, P3: Russell, P4: Verstappen, P5: Ocon, P6: Antonelli, P7: Albon, P8: Bearman, P9: Stroll and P10: Sainz.

    What a result for McLaren, a lovely 1-2 finish for the team, that is what they would’ve wanted last weekend but either way it’s a massive points haul for the team.
    Piastri had a dominating weekend anyway, P2 in the Sprint Race, Pole and then Win. Norris had a good race, made up for the Sprint. He pretty much had a smooth race apart from the brake problems at the end but he kept it cool, calm and collected.

    Russell had a lovely race, P3! He pretty much kept out of trouble and was putting pressure on Lando towards the end which is good to see. As for his teammate, Antonelli finished 6th by the time disqualifications come into it, another decent points haul for him and more learning.

    A good race for Verstappen, he lost quite a few places at the start, but after switching tyres and during the second half of the race, the Dutchman put pressure on the Ferrari’s and managed to make some ground back up.

    It was a decent race for Ferrari, P5 and P6, but after the race just ruined their weekend. A DSQ for both drivers so they come away from the Grand Prix with no points (apart from Sprint). Let’s hope they learn from this and don’t let it happen again as they’ve missed out on decent points…

    A double points finish for Haas!! P5 for Ocon and P8 Bearman, this amount of points so early on will make a big difference to the end of the season as the mid-field is going to be so close!

    Again double points for Williams, which means Sainz’s first point for the team. He had a bit of a rough weekend for the team, still struggling with the car but at least it’s better than last weekend.

    Now onto the next race weekend, we have a break now but we are back for Round 3 in Japan on the 4th – 6th of April and it will be a triple header!

  • R2 – China Sprint

    Lewis Hamilton has claimed victory in the first Sprint of the 2025 season at the Chinese Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver putting in an assured drive to add to his tally of wins in Shanghai and claim his debut P1 for the Scuderia.

    After a strong start when the lights went out, Hamilton went on to build a commanding lead and while it was not entirely smooth sailing, his SF-25 experiencing graining on the tyres at one stage – the seven time World Champion looked in stunning form across the 19 lap event.

    Max Verstappen spent much of the Sprint running in second but lost out to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri with a few laps to spare, putting the Red Bull third.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Hamilton, P2: Piastri, P3: Verstappen, P4: Russell, P5: Leclerc, P6: Tsunoda, P7: Antonelli, P8: Norris, P9: Stroll and P10: Alonso.

    A wonderful Sprint result from Lewis Hamilton, just what he would’ve set out to achieve after securing pole. It seems like the Ferrari has got some pace behind it as the Brit managed to finish the Sprint with just under a seven second lead.

    A good result for Piastri, made up a move in the race, which makes up some of the lost points from last weekend. As for his teammate, Lando Norris, he finished P8, he had a wide moment early on in the Sprint which cost him places and he just managed to get back up into the points scoring position.

    Good result for Verstappen, P3, he has got pace in the Red Bull, but I think with other teams around him they have just got that extra bit more than Red Bull. But we all know Max can drag stuff out of the car to keep him in the top 3.

    Yuki Tsunoda finished sixth, which is a lovely result, it seems like the Racing Bull car has got pace, as displayed last week in Australia but they just lucked out and didn’t score points. However the Japanese driver has managed it this weekend and it is only the sprint.

    I woke up feeling great today. I really do feel a lot of people underestimated the really steep climb it is to get into a new team, to become acclimatised within a team, understanding and communication, all sorts of things. From Lap 1 here this weekend, really feeling on it. We’ve done a great job – the engineers have done a great job, mechanics have done a great job to really finetune the car and it felt great today. I got a good start and then there’s so much grip on this new tarmac. It’s really hard to look after these tyres but I think everyone was struggling the same.
    Hamilton on Sprint Victory.

  • R2 – China Sprint Qualifying

    Ferrari driver, Lewis Hamilton delivered a stunning performance to secure pole position during Sprint Qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix, narrowly getting the better of Red Bull rival Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

    Hamilton posted a time of 1m 30.849s during the decisive SQ3 phase to pip Verstappen to the top spot by 0.018s with Piastri and the other Ferrari of Charles Leclerc not much further back in an ultra-close session.

    Hamilton’s benchmark was a new lap record around the Shanghai International Circuit and when informed of his pole over the radio the seven time World Champion could not believe it at first.

    The full top 10 are- Pole: Hamilton, P2: Verstappen, P3: Piastri, P4: Leclerc, P5: Russell, P6: Norris, P7: Antonelli, P8: Tsunoda, P9: Albon and P10: Stroll.

    What a result from Hamilton and Ferrari, very surprising but also very welcomed! It seems that Ferrari may have sorted out some of their issue from last week, plus Lewis absolutely loves this track so I wouldn’t be surprised if that helped a little bit.

    A very nice result from Verstappen, P2, it feels like we’ve gone back 4 years and its Max VS Lewis all over again! The Dutchman took the gamble with a one lap gamble and it paid off with a worthy front row result.
    As for his team mate, Liam Lawson qualified in 20th, he has just struggled so far this weekend, which is so tough to see.

    Now onto McLaren a bit of a mixed bag, Piastri qualified third which is a lovely result and Norris qualified 6th, which definitely could of been better, but they made the call of doing two laps instead of the rest of the top 10 and it didn’t pay off in the end as everyone else was improving on their lap times.

    An okay result for Mercedes, Russell, P5, which could’ve been better but still a decent result. As for Antonelli a much better qualifying for him so far this weekend, it will be interesting to see how the rookie goes this weekend in his first Sprint weekend.

  • R2 – Tyre Selection

    We are back once again as we return to China, which is the first Sprint race weekend of the season.

    The Shanghai track is 5.451 kilometres long and its layout is based on the Chinese character “shang” meaning “upwards” or “above”.
    The circuit features several slow corners, such as the first three, turn 6 and 14 and high speed corners like the combination from 7 to 8.

    There are two long straights, the one that crosses the start-finish line and another between turns 13 and 14, which is over a kilometre in length.

    Last summer, a new surface was laid down on the track and the pit lane at the Shanghai International Circuit. It has only been used a few times towards the end of 2024 and should be smoother than before, but it’s logical to expect the track to evolve very quickly.

    The trio of compounds chosen are the same as last year, C2 (Hard), C3 (Medium) and C4 (Soft). The last two were in use in Melbourne last weekend, while the first as run extensively during the three day test in Bahrain.

    Another important factor to consider this weekend will be the temperatures.
    It’s the first time that Shanghai hosts the Grand Prix in March when average temperatures rarely exceed 18°C.

    There were three interruptions last year – one VSC and two Safety Cars – which significantly influenced the outcome of the race, both in terms of the number of stops and the sequence in which the compounds were used.

    Three of the drivers who finished in the top ten made just one stop, six pitted twice and one even three times.
    The majority of the drivers opted to line up on the grid on the medium tyre, which also completed the most stints.

  • Piastri agrees new multi-year deal with McLaren

    McLaren and Oscar Piastri have agreed a new multi-year contract extension that the British team say will keep the Australian driver with them “for the long term”.

    Piastri joined McLaren ahead of the 2023 season on a multi-year contract and extended that arrangement after just 15 races of his debut campaign with the team to at least the end of of 2026.

    He continued to thrive at McLaren in only his second season, where he won two Grands Prix and scored another six podiums as well as achieving a Sprint win to earn another new deal.

    The 23 year old was the only driver to complete every racing lap of the 2024 season, and went on to finish a career-best fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, which also played a key role in the team securing the Teams’ title for the first time since 1998.

    This now means that McLaren have secured impressive stability through multi-year contract extensions with Brown, Stella, Norris and Piastri as well as several senior team members in recent times.

    It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m part of McLaren’s long-term vision. The team had the belief in me when we signed in 2022, and the journey we’ve gone on over the past two seasons to help return McLaren to the very top of the sport has been incredible. There are so many talented and special people working at MTC who have helped me to become a Formula 1 race winner very early in my career. Therefore, I’m very proud to be continuing to represent this legendary team for many years to come. I’m excited to fight for the big prizes as a McLaren driver and after last year’s fantastic achievements, it has made me even hungrier to stay at the sharp end.
    Piastri on the news.

    It’s fantastic to confirm Oscar’s extension with McLaren. Not only is he an incredibly talented driver, but his work ethic and cultural fit within the team made it a no-brainer to extend his time in papaya. We’ve got the best driver line-up on the grid, and in the past two seasons, we’ve seen how much of an asset to the team Oscar is both on and off track. He was absolutely fundamental in adding to our legacy with the 2024 Constructors’ Championship last season, so we’re all excited to see what we can do in the years to come as we continue to fight for World Championships together.
    Zak Brown, McLaren CEO.

    Further extending our partnership with Oscar is a symbol of our belief and trust in him as a driver, as well as a reflection of our shared ambition to continue in our fight for Championships together. It has been a pleasure working with Oscar throughout the past two seasons and he has continued to prove how impressive he is in terms of his talent, determination and work ethic as a driver and his contribution to our team and culture as a person. Alongside Lando, we have what we need locked in for the long term to keep pushing forward. I look forward to continuing to watch Oscar grow and develop as a driver and know that many successes lie ahead for him.
    Andrea Stella, Team Principal.

  • R1 – Australia

    Lando Norris converted pole position into a hard-fought win during the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, which featured mixed weather conditions, multiple crashes, Safety Cars and a late-race downpour that caused huge drama.

    Norris controlled the early stages of Sunday’s encounter from McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on a sodden track, before improving conditions enabled a switch to slick tyres over the second half.

    However, shortly after the field had ditched their intermediates, another patch of heavier rain soaked the circuit once more, dramatically sending both McLaren’s onto the grass and bringing most drivers immediately back into the pits for suitable rubber.

    While Norris managed to gather his car and head into the pit lane, Piastri spun off at the penultimate corner and lost a heap of time trying to recover the situation – a chain of events that released reigning World Champion Verstappen into the lead.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Norris, P2: Verstappen, P3: Russell, P4: Antonelli, P5: Albon, P6: Stroll, P7: Hulkenberg, P8: Leclerc, P9: Piastri and P10: Hamilton.

    It all started before the race even started, during the formation lap, Isack Hadjar lost control of his Racing Bulls car at the exit of Turn 1 which saw him go into the barriers and out of the race. It was so disappointing for the rookie and it would’ve been interesting to see if he could’ve grabbed points after qualifying 11th/

    What a lovely result for Norris, the best way to start the season with a race win. A really dominant weekend from Norris and McLaren. It all went wrong when it started raining again and both drivers went off track and over the grass at Turn 12 – which then Piastri ended up rearwards in Turn 13 run off. Gutting for Piastri as it was looking like a 1-2 for the team, but the Australian driver will bounce back.

    A lovely result for Max, P2, first race of the season. He was quite close to Norris, but McLaren just seemed to have that edge over Red Bull. As for Verstappen’s teammate, Liam Lawson, he DNF at Turn 2 when the rain intensified.

    A great result for Mercedes, Russell in P3 and Antonelli P4. The best team from the race, as they had both drivers in the points and the closest team mates. Antonelli is the best rookie of the weekend with a P4 finish and it makes him the second youngest driver to score points on debut!

    A lovely result from Alex Albon, P5! We all had a feeling that Williams would be up there especially because of their qualifying result but a lovely points haul for the team. For his teammate, Carlos Sainz, he had a DNF, during the Safety Car period Sainz crashed through the final corner – he reported a “massive power surge”.

    A great result for Nico Hulkenberg for Stake. They have now got more points in one race compared to last season overall, which they will be thrilled about.

    As for Ferrari, they had a bit of a shocker, they just didn’t seem to have much pace in the wet and they did mess up there strategy when it started raining, they thought they’d stay out which is a big gamble but the rain was just coming down so heavy so they ended up having to pit after everyone, which pushed them down the order.
    They did manage to grab points for both drivers, but both Leclerc and Hamilton would’ve wanted more…

    Now, onto Round 2! We are going to China, which is this week so we don’t have too long to wait for more racing and it is the first sprint race weekend of the year!

  • R1 – Australia Qualifying

    Lando Norris surged to pole position for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the McLaren driver having just edged out teammate Oscar Piastri by 0.048s to secure a front row lockout for the reigning Teams’ Champions.

    After Max Verstappen had initially secured provisional pole during the first runs of Q3, Piastri thrilled the crowd at his home event by stunningly beating that effort by four tenths. But the Australian did not keep P1 for long, as Norris went even faster.

    The full top 10 are- Pole: Norris, P2: Piastri, P3: Verstappen, P4: Russell, P5: Tsunoda, P6: Albon, P7: Leclerc, P8: Hamilton, P9: Gasly and P10: Sainz.

    What a result from McLaren, starting off where they finished last year! To have both drivers in the top 2 is the best result for the first race weekend of the year.
    Gutting for Piastri to not be on pole position, but I have no doubt he will be in the fight for the race win…

    A good result for Verstappen and Russell! It’s interesting that there lining up on the same row… especially as both of their teammates are further down the grid, so they do not have them to rely on for helping with pit stops etc.

    What a result from Yuki Tsunoda! P5! That was very surprising but it was a welcomed surprise. His teammate Isack Hadjar qualified 11th, the highest rookie position and just slightly missing out on Q3!
    It will be interesting to see how the Racing Bull cars get on in the next few races and keep up the very good results.

    A lovely qualifying for Alex Albon, P6 for the Williams man. Such an improvement compared to last year and to be honest its great to see! Hopefully they can mirror a points finish for the team. As for Albon’s teammate, Carlos Sainz, a decent result in P10, he seems to have got quite comfortable quite quickly which is good to see.

    A decent result for Ferrari, 7th for Leclerc and 8th for Hamilton, it could’ve been better for both drivers. But still a decent result at least they are in the top 10 and you can overtake here in Australia so they could make up some positions in the race.

  • R1 – Tyre Selection

    It’s officially race weekend (finally) and the 2025 season is here, we are back in Australia for Round 1.

    The track surface has not changed since it was renewed in 2022 and is not too harsh on the tyres.
    The only modification to the track layout, which features some sections made up of roads usually open to normal traffic, comes at Turn 6 and 7 where the barriers and kerbs have been modified.

    5.278 kilometres long, the circuit combines both fast straights with low to medium speed technical corners and some heavy braking points.

    Summer is sliding into autumn at this time of year in Australia and the weather can be very changeable, with big swings in temperature from one day to the next and rain has been known to put in an appearance.

    Having softened up its compound choices last year, Pirelli has confirmed the same compounds for the opening round, with the trio of C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), C5 (Soft).
    However, compared to a year ago the tyres have evolved in terms of the characteristics of both construction and compound.

    Last year, the most popular strategy was a two-step, with the Hard tyre doing most of the work, completing 80% of all the laps, with an average stint length of 22 laps.
    Only three drivers opted to start on the Soft, while two drivers lined up on Hard tyres, making Medium the most popular compound on the grid.

    https://twitter.com/pirellisport/status/1899105075479417079

  • Alpine announce Kush Maini as Test and Reserve Driver

    Alpine Academy driver, Kush Maini will expand his role with the team in 2025 by becoming Test and Reserve Driver, with the Indian racer set to take on the additional duties alongside competing in Formula 2 with DAMS.

    Maini first joined the Alpine Academy in October 2023 before going on to race in the 2024 F2 season, during which he scored five podiums including a race win in Budapest.

    As he enters into his third Formula 2 campaign, Maini will also take on the position of Test and Reserve Driver for the Alpine F1 Team.

    As part of his role, the 24 year old will use the driver-in-loop simulator at the squad’s Enstone base to support their car development and set up objectives as well as participating in the TPC programme (Testing of Previous Cars) to continue to improve his skills.

    Maini joins a pool of reserve drivers at Alpine that also includes Paul Aron, Ryo Hirakawa and former Williams super-sub Franco Colapinto.

    I am delighted to step up to the role of Test and Reserve Driver for BWT Alpine Formula 1 Team this season. Since joining the Alpine Academy ahead of last year, I have been incredibly welcomed in the entire Alpine family and I am thankful to Flavio [Briatore] and Oliver [Oakes] for their continued support. I am looking forward to getting more track time in Formula 1 machinery in this role and to build on what I have already learned with the team in 2024. I’m very excited to begin the role as soon as possible but for now my focus is on my third season in Formula 2 kicking off this weekend in Australia.
    Maini on the news.

    We are very happy to announce the expansion of Kush’s role in the Alpine Academy to include Test and Reserve Driver duties for the team this season. Kush has impressed the team across his TPC performances and Formula 2 results whilst we have been working with him and we expect he will continue to do so in 2025. His wider role allows us to further expand our pool of driving talent who can provide support and resources to the whole team during the busy season.
    Julian Rouse, Alpine Academy Director.

  • Racing Bulls announce technical team changes

    Racing Bulls have announced that their Technical Director, Jody Egginton, will be leaving the team after more than 10 years as part of the operation.

    Egginton is taking on the new role of Engineering Director at Red Bull Advanced Technologies, with that new appointment due to come into force from April 1st this year.

    Egginton’s F1 career began back in 1996 as a Junior Designer with the Tyrrell team followed by stints at Midland (which morphed into Spyker and Force India) and Team Lotus.
    He then moved to Toro Rosso in 2014 as Head of Vehicle Performance, becoming Deputy Technical Director in 2017 and then onto Technical Director in 2019.

    Egginton’s role at Racing Bulls will now be covered between Chief Technical Officer Tim Goss and Deputy Technical Directors Guillaume Cattleani (Car Performance) and Andrea Landi (Car Design).

    Being part of this team for over 10 years has been a fantastic experience for me, providing some very memorable moments. But after almost 20 years of focusing solely on Formula 1, I feel it’s time for a change. I will have a great remit as Engineering Director of Red Bull Advanced Technologies and the company currently has an exciting list of projects, so I can’t wait to get started on this new challenge.
    Egginton on the news.

    As our long-serving Technical Director, he has been instrumental in driving innovation and fostering team growth. I want to thank Jody for his expertise and the important contribution he has made to the team and the company’s upward trajectory. We wish him all the best for this new challenge within the Red Bull family.
    Laurent Mekies, Racing Bulls Team Principal.

  • Cadillac approved to join F1 grid in 2026

    It has been confirmed that the Cadillac Formula 1 Team have received final approval to join the sport, with the team – who are backed by TWG Motorsports and General Motors (GM) – set to be part of the F1 grid in 2026.

    The announcement comes after appointments were confirmed across recent months, including former Marussia Sporting Director Graeme Lowdon joining as Team principal and industry veteran Russ O’Blenes becoming CEO of TWG GM Performance Power Units, which will contribute towards Cadillac becoming a “full works” team by the end of the decade.

    The Cadillac outfit – which has bases in Fishers, Indiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; Warren, Michigan; and Silverstone, England – have assembled a team of over 200 people working on aerodynamics, chassis and component development, software and vehicle dynamics simulation since the team’s bid to enter Formula 1 was announced, with development work continuing at pace ahead of joining the grid in 2026.

    As we said in November, the commitment by General Motors to bring a Cadillac team to Formula 1 was an important and positive demonstration of the evolution of our sport. I want to thank GM and TWG Motorsports for their constructive engagement over many months and look forward to welcoming the team on the grid from 2026 for what will be another exciting year for Formula 1.
    Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.

    Today marks a transformative moment, and I am proud to lead the Federation in this progressive step for the championship. The FIA Formula One Championship’s expansion to an 11th team in 2026 is a milestone. GM/Cadillac brings fresh energy, aligning with the new FIA 2026 regulations and ushering in an exciting era for the sport.The Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s presence in the paddock will inspire future competitors and fans. Their entry strengthens our mission to push motorsport’s boundaries at the highest level.
    FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

    For the past year, we have worked hand in hand with GM, to lay a robust foundation for an extraordinary Formula 1 entry. Now, with 2026 in our sights after today’s final approval from the FIA and Formula One Management, we’re accelerating our efforts—expanding our facilities, refining cutting-edge technologies, and continuing to assemble top-tier talent.
    Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsport.

    I couldn’t be prouder of the effort put in thus far by the entire Cadillac Formula 1 team. This announcement is the next step in getting on the grid and continued work toward building a full-works team. Through the long and thorough application process, we never lost pace in planning or belief in our mission. We can’t wait to go racing and give fans a new team to cheer for.
    Lowdon on the news.

  • FIA World Motor Sport Council confirm changes to Monaco GP

    The FIA World Motor Sport Council have approved proposals for a mandatory two-stop strategy to be implemented at the Monaco Grand Prix.

    It comes following a meeting between stakeholders, coinciding with the start of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.

    The change, which will apply to both wet and dry races, has been pushed through “with the primary intent of improving the sporting spectacle” of the event.

    Drivers will now be required to use at least three sets of tyres in the race with a minimum of two different tyre compounds to be used if conditions are dry.

    The 2024 Monaco Grand Prix saw the top 10 start and finish in the same positions, with a red flag on the opening lap taking out any strategic element.

    Since 2010, F1 rules state that at least two dry tyre compounds must be used in a Grand Prix if the conditions are dry, therefore each driver must complete a pit stop, unless there is a red flag which allows you to change tyres.

    F1 and the Monaco Grand Prix have agreed a new deal last year that will see the event remain on the calendar until at least 2031, so efforts to make the race better have taken place.

  • Zhou returns to Ferrari as reserve driver

    Ferrari have announced the return of Zhou Guanyu as a reserve driver for the 2025 season, adding to the team’s back-up pool alongside incumbent Antonio Giovinazzi.

    It officially ends the speculation over the Chinese racer’s immediate future, following Kick Sauber’s decision to overhaul their driver line-up and part ways with both Zhou and teammate Valtteri Bottas.

    Zhou spent four years as part of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy from 2015 to 2018, rising through the Formula 4 and Formula 3 single-seater ranks with the Maranello-based operation.

    He progressed to Formula 2 after leaving the academy, and having won multiple races, secured promotion to Formula 1 with Sauber’s team then backed by Alfa Romeo for the 2022 season.

    He remained there through the 2024 campaign, when the team transitioned to their Kick Sauber guise, reaching 68 Grand Prix starts and topping up his points tally to 16 before leaving the grid.

    Zhou will provide support to Ferrari’s full time drivers in his new role, with the famous marque this year fielding a revised lineup as seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton joins Charles Leclerc.

  • Mercedes announce car reveal date

    Mercedes have confirmed that their 2025 F1 car will be revealed to the world on February 24th, just a few days after the team unveil their livery during the inaugural season launch event at London’s 02.

    The squad’s challenger for the campaign ahead – the Mercedes-AMG F1 W16 E Performance is set to break cover ahead of what will be a new era for the Silver Arrows driver-wise, with rookie Kimi Antonelli joining the incumbent George Russell following Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari.

    Details have not yet been revealed about where the car launch will take place, but the event will come just under a week after Mercedes join the other nine teams on the grid for the F1 75 launch event in London.

    The livery that will adorn the W16 will be unveiled during the special event, with Toto Wolff recently stating that the squad will continue to use black on their car, a colour scheme that Hamilton was instrumental in introducing back in 2020.

    Mercedes are the latest team to announce a reveal date for their car: Williams on 14th, Haas 16th for a filming day at Silverstone, Ferrari on the 19th.

    All 10 teams will head to the Bahrain International Circuit for pre-season testing for three days from February 26th – 28th ahead of the season opening Australian grand Prix.

  • Alunni Bravi to join McLaren ahead of 2025 season

    Former Kick Sauber Team Representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi will be joining McLaren Racing as their new Chief Business Affairs Officer.

    In the newly created position, which he started on the 1st February, Alunni Bravi will provide executive leadership skills “across a range of McLaren Racing business matters, including legal, driver development, commercial, driver contract management and rights holders/governing body management”.

    He will also take over the running of McLaren’s Driver Development programme, which transitions across from Stephanie Carlin, who is assuming additional responsibilities within the F1 outfit run by Team Principal, Andrea Stella.

    Alunni Bravi, who will report directly to CEO Zak Brown and sit as part of the McLaren Racing Executive Team, brings more than two decades of motorsport and business leadership experience to the squad, most recently at Kick Sauber.

    The Italian served as Managing Director of the Sauber Group and Team Representative for Kick Sauber, adding to previous leadership roles with racing teams and companies such as ART Grand Prix, Trident Racing and SPARK Racing Technology.

    I’m delighted to have Alessandro joining us with his extensive expertise and motorsport background. Alongside managing our legal and driver development functions, he will also provide invaluable support on all professional driver business management matters, racing governance activities across our various rights holders and governing body relationships and broad business support to all our racing series as needed.
    Brown on the news.

    McLaren is a team I have been a huge fan of my whole life, and it therefore sparks special emotions personally to have the opportunity to now work with such an amazing group of people. I’m so grateful to be joining such a great organisation with the values and culture that are so clear to see from the outside. I want to reward the trust and confidence that Zak and the Board have put in me by giving my full dedication and effort to help contribute to the continued success, as I believe teamwork is key to everything. I am so happy to be joining a team that I truly believe sets the benchmark in F1 both on and off the track, and I can’t wait to get started at the beginning of February.
    Alunni Bravi on the news.

  • Williams Racing sign Turvey from McLaren

    Williams Racing have announced the signing of Oliver Turvey as their new Test and Development Driver, providing additional support to full-time racers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz.

    British racer Turvey, 37, brings some 15 years of experience across F1, Formula E and sportscar racing to Grove, where “he will play a pivotal part in advancing Williams’ development programmes and simulator operations”.

    This will include helping to develop a state of the art driver in loop (DIL) Simulator, which is set to become operational later this year, as Williams continue their quest to climb the F1 pecking order.

    Alongside a racing career that includes wins in a host of single-seater championships and victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, Turvey has spent the last 15 years in a test and development role at McLaren.

    It’s an honour to have the opportunity to join such an historic and successful team. I have long admired Williams and watching Damon Hill win the World Championship for them is a moment that inspired me as I began my own racing career in karting. The ambition and determination driving this project are incredibly inspiring, and I’m excited for the challenge ahead to help bring the team back to the top. It is a privilege to work alongside Alex and Carlos, who I consider two of the best drivers in F1. I look forward to using my experience as both a driver and engineer to work closely with the team at Grove to enhance the car’s performance in the simulator and support the race team. I would like to thank James, Sven [Smeets, Williams Sporting Director], and the Board for putting their trust in me. I will give everything I have to help the team achieve success.
    Turvey on the news.

    We’re very happy to welcome Oliver to the team. He brings a vast amount of experience and expertise that will be invaluable to our progression as we continue to strengthen the team across the board. The role of a test and development driver is vital to our journey back towards success, and I am confident that Oliver, who will join Harrison Scott, will result in a strong team developing the current and future cars.
    Smeets added.

  • Laura Mueller becomes F1’s first female Race Engineer

    Haas have promoted Laura Mueller to the role of Race Engineer for new recruit Esteban con with Carine Cridelich set to join as Head of Strategy from rivals Racing Bulls as part of a wider strengthening of the structure.

    Haas finished seventh in the constructors’ championship last year, their best finish since 2018, and are looking to build on that this year with a new line-up that features race winner Ocon and Ferrari junior Ollie Bearman.

    Mueller headlines the raft of changes, earning promotion for her role as Performance Engineer to become the first full-time female to take on the high-profile position of Race Engineer.

    A race engineer is one of the most senior trackside roles for a team as they are the main link between a driver and the team, both on-track through radio communications, and off it in the pursuit of performance.

    She’s a pretty determined character. And then she’s very hardworking. Her work ethic is really, really good. She’s going to be Esteban’s Race Engineer. In terms of looking at it personality-wise, Esteban is a pretty determined character as well. So that side, I think the driving force, I think that personality matches pretty well. And then what she’s really good at is, when she sees a problem, she digs deep, and she doesn’t stop at the first answer. Some people, when they find the answer, first answer, they stop there. They think, ‘Oh, great, I found the solution, move on’. She has a good work ethic such that when she finds the first solution, she knows that there’s 10 things, now you’ve got new questions to answer. Her determination is the one that impresses me the most.
    Komatsu on the news.

  • Alessandro Alunni Bravi to leave Sauber

    Kick Sauber have confirmed that Alessandro Alunni Bravi will leave his position as Team Representative and Managing Director at the end of January 2025.

    After first joining the squad in 2017 as General Counsel and Board Member, Alunni Bravi became Managing Director in 2022 – focusing on marketing, communications, sales and other departments before taking the position of Team Representative in 2023 in all official functions at race weekends and away from the track.

    Now the Italian is set to move onto new prokects and admitted in a statement that seeing his journey with the team come to an end has been “emotional”.

    The news marks another change for Kick Sauber ahead of their transition into becoming Audi’s works outfit in 2026.

    As well as developments in the wider structure, the squad will field an all new driver line-up in 2025, with Nico Hulkenberg joining from Haas and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto making the step up after winning the 2024 Formula 2 Championship.

    Since I joined in 2017, I have seen this team grow and change beyond what anyone could have imagined. This organisation went through exciting and difficult times alike, all without ever losing its spirit and its commitment, which is something I find inspiring, and I was proud of being able to represent the team as its public face in the last two years. As I move on to a new project, I want to thank Finn Rausing, all those who put so much trust and faith in me at Sauber and Audi, and all the colleagues I have been working with for the last eight years. This team is a family and has a bright future ahead.
    Alunni Bravi on the news.

    Having worked closely with him in the months since my arrival to Hinwil, I want to pay tribute to Alessandro, a true team player who came to embody the essence of Sauber throughout the years. Alessandro played a wide range of roles within the team, steering it through difficult and exciting times alike. As he moves onto a new venture, the whole company would like to thank him for all his energy and contributions over the years and wish him the best for the future.
    Mattia Binotto, Chief Operating and Chief Technical Office at Sauber Motorsport.

  • Andy Cowell becomes Team Principal at AM

    Aston Martin have announced that Andy Cowell will assume the role of Team Principal alongside his position as CEO with immediate effect, with Mike Krack moving to the position of Chief Trackside Officer as part of an organisation restructure.

    In a shift towards a flatter structure, Cowell – who previously joined the squad in October as CEO – will also become Team Principal, with the squad’s Aerodynamics, Engineering and Performance Departments both trackside and at the AMR Technology Campus reporting into him.

    Krack – who has held the role of Team Principal since 2022 – will focus on getting the most performance out of the car at the track in his role as Chief Trackside Officer.

    The AMR Technology Campus-based team, meanwhile are set to be led by new Chief Technical Officer Enrico Caridle, while Tom McCullough will remain with the group in a leadership position.

    Cardile will oversee the architecture, design and build of new race cars, having joined the team after leaving his position as Technical Director Chassis and Aerodynamics at Ferrari last year.

    McCullough who held the position of Performance Director and has worked with the team for 11 years – is set to play a role in the expansion of the team’s broader range of racing catgeories.

    I have spent the last three months understanding and assessing our performance, and I’ve been incredibly impressed by the dedication, commitment and hard work of this team. With the completion of the AMR Technology Campus and our transition in 2026 to a full works team, alongside our strategic partners Honda and Aramco, we are on a journey to becoming a Championship-winning team. These organisational changes are a natural evolution of the multi-year plans that we have scheduled to make and I’m incredibly excited about the future.
    Cowell on the restructure.

  • Alpine confirm Colapinto as reserve driver

    Franco Colapinto will join Alpine as one of their reserve drivers in 2025, it has been announced with the Argentinian racer further bolstering the team’s back-up pool for the season ahead.

    Colapinto burst on the F1 scene last year when Williams drafted him in to replace Logan Sargeant who was struggling for form in his second season – from the Italian Grand Prix weekend.

    Stopping his first full term in F2, which had yielded a breakthrough victory, the 21 year old immediately looked at home behind the wheel of F1 machinery, reaching Q3 and scoring points at only his second race weekend in Azerbaijan.

    Colapinto bagged another point at the United States Grand Prix and while subsequent incidents took the shine off his arrival, he had turned heads in the paddock and drew plenty of praise from Team Principal, James Vowles.

    Colapinto’s initial performances saw him linked with several rival teams over a potential 2025 race seat, but none of these ultimately materialised, while Williams had already signed Carlos Sainz to partner Alex Albon.

    Now following plenty of media reports, the next chapter of a rollercoaster F1 journey so far will see Colapinto to join Alpine’s reserve roster.

    I am super excited to have the opportunity to join BWT Alpine Formula One Team. First of all, I want to say thank you to Williams for all their support from the moment I joined the Academy until the last race in Abu Dhabi. They turned my dream of racing in Formula One into reality, and I will always be grateful for that. Now, it is time for a new chapter, and to take on this challenge with BWT Alpine Formula One Team is truly an honour. A huge thank you to Luca [de Meo], Flavio [Briatore] and Oliver [Oakes] for believing in me and welcoming me into the team with open arms. I cannot wait to get started and see where this journey takes us. Also, a massive thank you to all my sponsors and partners who stood by me through the challenges of the 2024 season. Your support made it all possible, and to my incredible fans in Argentina: ‘Muchas gracias!’ Your passion and encouragement mean the world to me. Let’s aim for even greater things in 2025 and beyond.
    Colapinto on the news.

    We are very pleased to come to an agreement with Williams Racing to sign Franco Colapinto. Clearly, Franco is among the best young talents in motorsport right now. It is fair to say his appearance on the Formula One grid last year caught many, me included, by surprise and his performances have been very impressive for a rookie driver. We have an eye on our future and his signing means we have a great pool of young drivers to call upon and work with in developing the team for future success.
    Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor at Alpine.

  • Williams confirm launch date for 2025 car

    Williams have announced that they will unveil their 2025 Formula 1 car on February 14th, with the FW47 being revealed in a bespoke one-off livery before the race livery for the campaign is unveiled during F1’s season launch event at London’s O2.

    As part of a special promotional event at Silverstone, the Grove outfit’s new challenger will break cover in front of fans, partner and media.

    It marks the beginning of a highly anticipated new era for Williams, with Carlos Sainz joining Alex Albon in their driver line-up as the squad look to work their way towards the front of the field.

    Williams are not the only team to announce their launch date, as Sainz’s former squad, Ferrari have confirmed that their 2025 challenger will be revealed on February 19th.

    There is a tremendous amount to look forward to for Williams in 2025 – we have fantastic race drivers in Alex and Carlos, top engineers joining from across the grid and new facilities becoming operational at our Grove HQ. As part of our comeback plan, we have been working on our 2025 car for some time and I can’t wait to see it at Silverstone on February 14. Everyone in the team is giving everything to get this team back where it belongs as we head towards the major rule changes for 2026. It’s going to be an exciting year.
    James Vowles, Team Principal.

    Everyone at the factory is working hard to get our car ready for the new season. Launching on February 14 should be a great way to start an important year for us as a team, fighting as hard as we can with both cars from the outset this year and looking forward to opportunities ahead in 2026. I can’t wait to see the results of the teamwork and dedication that makes this team so special.
    Albon on the news.

    It’s an important time for the team and we are all going to push to bring Williams back to the front of the grid as soon as possible. I was very impressed with the team back in Abu Dhabi. After a long year, it was great to watch the motivation and effort that everyone put in at such an important test. Thanks to that, we’ve been able to put together a solid plan and we have already started working on it to make sure we are as prepared as possible ahead of the pre-season test and first race. We’re not far away from the Silverstone car launch and I can’t wait to see my new ride! 2025 will be an exciting year and we are fully committed to putting together a strong season. VAMOS!
    Sainz on the news.

  • Ryo Hirakawa joins Alpine as reserve

    Alpine have announced that Japanese racer, Ryo Hirakawa will be added to the team’s test and reserve driver pool for the 2025 season, joining confirmed Paul Aron.

    Hirakawa will bring wide-ranging motorsport experience to Alpine, having competed in various single-seater and endurance championships, as well as testing Formula 1 machinery with McLaren and Haas.

    Not only this, he also claimed overall victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022 and is a two-time Hypercar champion in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2022 and 2023!

    The Japanese drivers role at Alpine will involve him participating in the team’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme and supporting with car development and technical understanding via their simulator.
    After a maiden practice run with McLaren in Abu Dhabi last year, and an appearance at the post-season test with Haas, the 30 year old will also get an FP1 outing on his home soil at the Japanese Grand Prix in April.

    It is an honour to be joining BWT Alpine Formula One Team as a Test and Reserve Driver for the 2025 season. As always, the opportunity of track time in Formula 1 machinery is the pinnacle for race drivers and I am excited to drive in Free Practice 1 in front of my home crowd at the Japanese Grand Prix, as well as working with the team testing previous cars. It is a great opportunity to be working with such a dedicated team that utilises the breadth of experience of its driver pool and I look forward to playing a part in making 2025 a positive year together.
    Hirakawa on the news.

    It is great to bring Ryo on board with the team for 2025 and have him step in to take over driving duties for FP1 in Japan in front of his home crowd. His addition brings a diverse range of racing experience to our current roster and expands the pool of talent available to call upon throughout the season.
    Oliver Oakes, Team Principal added.

  • F1 announces multi-year extension of Belgian GP

    Formula 1 has agreed a multi-year extension with the Belgian Grand Prix that will see the sport race at the iconic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in four of the next six years.

    The extension, which includes Grand Prix in the 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2031 seasons, follows significant investment at the circuit in recent year, including the addition of two new grandstands which increased capacity by 10,000 and enhancement of the off-track entertainment and fan experience.

    The Wallonian circuit is celebrated by fans and drivers alike for its mixture of long straights and challenging fast corners, including one of the most famous sections of racetrack in the world as drivers power through Eau Rouge and Raidillon, then on to the Kemmel straight.

    This year, the Belgian Grand Prix welcomed 380,000 fans across the race weekend in a gripping three days of action which saw Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton claim his second win of the season and his fifth at Spa.

    Built in 1921, Spa-Francorchamps was one of just seven circuits to be part of Formula 1’s maiden championship in 1950 and has since hosted 57 Grands Prix.
    Spanning 7.004km, it’s the longest circuit on the Formula 1 calendar and has seen some of the sport’s most decorated drivers, including Aryton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda and Sebastian Vettel win there.

    The Belgian Grand Prix was one of the races that made up our maiden Championship in 1950, so as we kick off our 75th anniversary year it is fitting that we can share the news of this important extension. Spa-Francorchamps is rightly lauded by drivers and fans alike as one of the finest racetracks in the world and it has played host to some incredible moments over its many seasons in Formula 1. In recent years it has undergone significant work to improve the facility and overall fan experience, and I would like to pay tribute to the promoter and the Government of Wallonia for their dedication and passionate support for Formula 1 in Belgium.
    Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.

    I am delighted that the Belgian Grand Prix – a must-attend event for Wallonia – has been confirmed on the F1 calendar for several years. The circuit provides the Region with high-quality sports infrastructure capable of hosting exceptional events, and thanks to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, Spa-Francorchamps, and through it, Wallonia, is placed at the centre of global attention. In addition to this international showcase, the event generates significant economic benefits for Wallonia, as well as for Belgium. The extension of this relationship over several years will also allow the circuit teams to plan for the future, which is hugely positive.
    Pierre-Yves Jeholet, Vice President of the Walloon Government and Minister of the Economy.

  • Hadjar signs for RB

    Isack Hadjar will be making his Formula 1 debut this year as he takes the final seat on the grid after agreeing a deal to become Yuki Tsunoda’s teammate at RB.

    Red Bull Junior, Hadjar impressed in his second season in Formula 2, he finished as runner-up to Kick Sauber bound Gabriel Bortoleto with Campos Racing.

    After Sergio Perez was confirmed to be parting ways with Red Bull ahead of the 2025 season, Liam Lawson stepped up from RB in his place meaning there was a vacancy at RB for Hadjar.
    Red Bull opted to make Hadjar the 19th driver promoted to F1 from their junior programme, which began back in 2001.

    He follows in the footsteps of four time world champions Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel as well as eight time race winner Daniel Ricciardo.

    I’m very excited to step into my new role at VCARB. This is huge for myself, my family and all the people who have believed in me from the beginning. The journey from karting through the ranks in single-seaters, to now being in Formula 1 is the moment I’ve working towards my whole life – it is the dream. I feel like I’m stepping into a whole new universe, driving a much faster car and racing with the best drivers in the world. It’ll be a huge learning curve, but I’m ready to work hard and do the best I can for the team. I look forward to working with and learning from Yuki. I’ve always looked up to him, he went through the Red Bull junior programme like myself and we’ve shared a similar path to F1. He’s very experienced and will be good to learn from.
    Hadjar on the news

    We’re excited to have Isack with us next year, bringing a new and fresh dynamic to the team alongside Yuki in 2025. His journey to Formula 1 has been nothing short of outstanding. He has shown remarkable growth, with a series of impressive results in the junior single-seater ranks. He has the talent and drive necessary to compete at the highest level, and we have every confidence that he will adapt quickly and make a significant impact. I believe Isack and Yuki will make a great team. Yuki brings invaluable experience to the team. He’s shown incredible resilience and maturity, which will be crucial for the team as we strive to hit all our aims and objectives in 2025.
    Team Principal, Laurent Mekies.

    Firstly, we must congratulate Liam for his step up to Red Bull Racing. As a sister team and as an incubator for Formula 1 talent, our strategic objective is to foster and nurture our drivers in preparation for this next step. With his move and by bringing Isack into VCARB, it’s a testament to our longstanding commitment to develop the best young drivers in motorsport, as well as proof of concept of the Red Bull junior programme. Having a younger driver supports our mission to speak to a younger audience, so we look forward to bringing new and existing fans on the journey with us.
    CEO, Peter Bayer.

  • Bottas re-joins Mercedes as reserve

    Mercedes have announced that Valtteri Bottas will return to the team as a reserve driver for the 2025 season, after the Finn and Kick Sauber parted company following the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

    Bottas drove for Mercedes for five seasons alongside Lewis Hamilton from 2017 – 2021, securing all 10 of his career wins with the Silver Arrows, as well as his 20 pole positions in Formula 1.

    He would then join Sauber, known as Alfa Romeo at the time for the 2022 season after Mercedes chose to promote George Russell in his place, the Finn enduring mixed fortunes with the Swiss team ranging from a strong 10th in 2022 to failing to score at all in 2024.

    When Kick Sauber opted not to re-sign Bottas for 2025 – instead choosing a new combination of Nico Hulkenberg and Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto – the Finn began talks with Mercedes about a reserve role in a bid to stay in the conversation as he pursues a racing return next season.

    His reserve role will involve him attending most, if not all, the Grand Prix and supporting George Russell and debutant Kimi Antonelli.

    Returning home to the Mercedes family as third driver for 2025 is what’s next and I couldn’t be more pleased. I want to thank Toto [Wolff, Mercedes team boss], the team at Brackley, and everyone at the three-pointed star for welcoming me back with open arms.Despite the challenges of the past few years, I know that I’ve still got so much more to contribute to F1. Since I was a five-year-old kid growing up in Nastola, Finland, my focus has been on achieving success in the top tier of motorsport. I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed many incredible moments in my 12 years of racing in F1 so far. As I return to the place where so many of those moments were achieved, I’m looking forward to using all the knowledge I’ve gained to help the team to perform and progress towards our goal of fighting for world championships.
    Bottas on the news.

    Welcome home, Valtteri! It’s great to have you back. His impact and contribution in the five years he was with us previously as our race driver was immense. Along with scoring multiple Grands Prix wins, he played a vital role in five of our championship victories. His technical feedback and input were important in helping us to those successes and pushing the team forward. Not only that, but he was also a fantastic colleague and team member. His dry sense of humour and personable nature made him a firm favourite with everyone at Brackley and Brixworth. In his role as Reserve Driver, all those qualities will be incredibly important in helping us compete for world championships and supporting both George and Kimi on track.
    Toto Wolff on the news.

  • Lawson confirmed for Red Bull

    Red Bull have chosen Liam Lawson to replace Sergio Perez and become Max Verstappen’s team mate this year.

    Just before Christmas it got announced that Sergio Perez will be leaving the team with immediate effect after agreeing a deal to part ways with the team despite having two years left on his contract.

    When Red Bull opted to make a change with Perez, they narrowed down the shortlist to either promoting Lawson or his RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

    New Zealander, Lawson got the nod after impressing in two super-sub stints with Red Bull’s sister team – first when he replaced the injured Daniel Ricciardo for five races towards the end of 2023, and second when he replaced Ricciardo from the United States Grand Prix onwards in 2024.

    To be announced as an Oracle Red Bull Racing driver is a lifelong dream for me. This is something I’ve wanted and worked towards since I was eight years old. It’s been an incredible journey so far. I want to say a massive thank you to the whole team at VCARB for their support, the last six races have played a huge part in my preparation for this next step. I also want to thank, Christian [Horner, Red Bull boss], Helmut [Marko, Red Bull Motorsport Adviser] and the whole Red Bull family for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I am super excited to work alongside Max and learn from a World Champion, I have no doubt I will learn from his expertise. I can’t wait to get going!
    Lawson on the news.

    I’m delighted to announce that Liam Lawson will join the team in 2025. Liam’s performances over the course of his two stints with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls have demonstrated that he’s not only capable of delivering strong results but that he’s also a real racer, not afraid to mix it with the best and come out on top. His arrival continues the Team’s long history of promoting from within the Red Bull Junior Programme and he follows in the footsteps of championship and race-winning drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and of course, Max Verstappen. There’s no doubt that racing alongside Max, a four-time champion and undoubtedly one of the greatest drivers ever seen in F1, is a daunting task, but I’m sure Liam can rise to that challenge and deliver some outstanding results for us next year.
    Christian Horner on the news.

  • Perez and Red Bull part ways

    Sergio Perez and Red Bull have reached an agreement to part ways with immediate effect.

    Last year, Perez signed a new deal to race for the team until the end of 2026 – on the back of his strongest season ever in 2023, when he finished second to team mate and champion Max Verstappen.

    However, his form wasn’t the same after signing that deal, the Mexican driver scored only nine points in the last eight Grand Prix weekends of the 2024 season.

    He finished the season in eighth in the drivers’ championship with Red Bull failing to defend their constructors’ championship and seeing out the season in P3 behind champions McLaren and runners-up Ferrari.

    Throughout the difficult period and many rumours, Perez remained resolute that he would race for the team this year, but following discussions with Red Bull they’ve agreed to split after four years together.

    During his time at Red Bull Perez secured five wins, including victory in Monaco, over 90 starts with the team and also played a key role in Red Bull winning the constructors’ championship in 2022 and 2023.

    I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Oracle Red Bull Racing and for the opportunity to race with such an amazing team. Driving for Red Bull has been an unforgettable experience and I’ll always cherish the successes we achieved together. We broke records, reached remarkable milestones, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people along the way. A big thank you to every person in the team from the management, engineers and mechanics, catering, hospitality, kitchen, marketing and communications, as well as everyone at Milton Keynes, I wish you all the best for the future. It has also been an honour to race alongside Max as a team mate all these years and to share in our success. A special thank you to the fans around the world, and especially to the Mexican fans for your unwavering support every day. We’ll meet again soon. And remember… never give up.
    Perez on the news.

    I would like to thank Checo for all he has done for Oracle Red Bull Racing over the past four seasons. From the moment he joined in 2021 he proved himself to be an extraordinary team player, helping us to two constructors’ titles and to our first one-two finish in the drivers’ championship. His five wins, all on street circuits, were also a spectacular mark of his determination to always push to the limit. While Checo will not race for the team next season, he will always be an extremely popular team member and a treasured part of our history. Thank you, Checo.
    Christian Horner on the news.

  • Ferrari announce launch date

    Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari Formula 1 car will break cover on February 19th, a day after the sport’s inaugural season launch at London’s O2 to mark its 75th anniversary.

    Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur revealed the date during the Italian team’s annual Christmas media event, where it was held at their Fiorano test track.

    Vasseur also confirmed the team will run the 2025 car on February 19th but did not give any more details as to who will drive, nor any information on what the launch will look like.

    Following their event at Maranello, Ferrari will head straight to Bahrain for three days of testing, which begins on February 26th at the Bahrain International Circuit.
    Hamilton and new team mate Charles Leclerc will get one and a half days of running between them at the desert venue before the season opener in Melbourne, Australia.

    We will have a couple of test days with TPC [testing of previous cars] and Pirelli [tyre test running] before Bahrain. It’s a very short period. At the end of the day, you have launch of the car on Feb 19 – and then we are going directly to Bahrain for the first test and to Melbourne. It means this will be a rush, but I’m not worried at all. He [Hamilton] is coming with experience of this. He did almost 20 seasons in F1 – and he will manage perfectly this period. We know that we will have a lot of procedures to assimilate during these couple of days, but I think he is experienced enough to do it. We’ll have the advantage to have the simulator. Obviously he will be able to do a race simulation, quali simulation into the simulator, and to be fully prepared with the steering wheel and the particularities of the race. But honestly, I’m not worried about this. It’s not the biggest challenge.
    Vasseur on Hamilton and testing.